Transfer Rumors (10 August 08): United to offer 20m for Henry, Chelsea to make improved Robinho bid, Silva in Liverpool’s sights, and more
In today’s roundup, we’re giving the latest on quite a few rumors that we’ve heard throughout the summer that are still in the news for one reason or another. But, we do have some relatively fresh rumors to report on that are sprinkled throughout the bunch.
The Daily Mail, which is sometimes more of a beacon of accuracy than other times, says that Manchester United are going to make a £20m bid for Thierry Henry. United were linked with making a bid for Henry earlier this summer, but it didn’t happen then. Could it happen now?
Rumor Rating: 2 – Still hard to see this one happen, but it’s not out of the realm of possibility.
Chelsea are reportedly set to make a second bid for Real Madrid’s Robinho after making a pretty weak (well, in comparison to Real’s valuation) bid in the region of £20m.
Rumor Rating: 4 – Robinho wants it to happen. Chelsea wants it to happen. That’s two out of three. The other, and most important one, will depend on how much better this offer is.
So, could Liverpool’s owners finally be giving Rafa a little cash to make another big signing? News of the World says that George Gillett and Tom Hicks may be green-lighting a move for Valencia’s David Silva after pulling the plug on a deal for Gareth Barry.
Rumor Rating: 3 – For what it’s worth, the report also says that Manchester United are set to make a £20m bid. Wouldn’t be a surprise to see Silva land in Liverpool, but we’ll see.
The agent of Udinese midfielder Gokhan Inler has said that he’s held ‘positive’ discussions with Arsene Wenger regarding his client.
Rumor Rating: 3 – Udinese don’t really want to sell him, but hey, if Arsenal are actually thinking of paying the money that it’s being said they’re prepared to pay (£11.7m), then that could get the ball rolling.
Arsenal are also once again being linked with a move for Kolo Toure’s brother, Barcelona midfielder Yaya. The younger Toure was linked with Arsenal early on this summer, but that fizzled out until now, with Arsenal still in the market for experience in midfield.
Rumor Rating: 3 – The draw of playing with his brother would undoubtedly appeal to Yaya, but he won’t come too cheap. He signed for Barca for €9m last year, so expect them to want to make at least a half-decent profit on him if they are inclined to sell.
Also on the rekindled interest front is the latest with Everton and Joao Moutinho, as the Toffees are set to make a bid of €16.5m (£12.9m) according to Record.
Rumor Rating: 2 – That’s all well and good if they do really want to make a bid for him, but 1) it’s still a great deal lower than Sporting’s asking price, and 2) strikers, strikers, strikers.
According to News of the World, Everton may well be listening, as David Moyes has reportedly been in talks with CSKA Moscow over a deal for Brazilian striker Vagner Love, who could very well be set to join compatriot and former teammate Jo in the Premier League.
Rumor Rating: 3 – While Love is probably a little too expensive to buy permanently at this point, the report says that a season-long loan looks to be the likely option.
Just like David Nugent didn’t want to play in the Championship, neither does Birmingham midfielder Sebastian Larsson. The main difference between the Nugent and the 23-year old Swede is that Portsmouth were trying to get rid of him, and Birmingham are trying to hold on to Larsson, but he appears to be adamant about getting his move back to the Premier League.
Rumor Rating: 3 – He’s certainly won’t have any shortage of suitors, and £5m or more would probably be a reasonable price for him, but Alex McLeish isn’t keen on losing a player who will help him get back to the Premier League at the first time of asking.
Agent Ernesto Bronzetti claims that there is an agreement in place between Roma and Real Madrid about the transfer of Julio Baptista to Rome, and that all that remains is the official announcement, which could come as early as Monday.
Rumor Rating: 4 – Roma have been really quiet compared to their fellow Serie A title challengers this summer, so if they can get the deal done for Baptista, then that will make a lot of Roma fans happy as the season gets closer.
PSG have agreed a fee with Fenerbahce for striker Mateja Kezman. The 29-year old should complete his move to Paris sometime next week.
Rumor Rating: 5 – After getting blanked in a loss at Monaco on the opening day of the new Ligue 1 campaign, Paul Le Guen will be looking forward to the arrival of Kezman.
Well, that’s it for the day in transfer news and rumors. What do you think of today’s tidbits? Is there any chance of Henry returning to England in a Manchester United shirt? Silva to Liverpool – is it in the cards, or are the papers just getting the fans’ hopes up? How many more signings do Arsenal need to make before the window closes?
I’ll be back tomorrow with all of the latest transfer headlines, true, false, and just plain outlandish, but until then, chime in with your thoughts on today’s bits, chip in with ones that you’ve read and heard, and check out the updated summer transfer lists.
So let me get this straight:
Udinese DON’T want to sell Inler, but Arsenal are still talking to the player’s agent?
I thought Arsenal were the standup citizens who only went through proper channels and all that?
Haha!
HENRY WILL NEVER GO 2 UNITED
AND YES GOTTA FEELING THAT DAVID SILVA WILL SIGN FOR LIVERPOOL WITHIN THE NEXT 3 -5 days
Liverpool don’t have the money to buy Silva as they don’t have a similar player with his value. They would have to sell Alonso to generate the kind of money needed to buy Silva and that would leave a gap in the centre of the park.
Morgan… maybe you are stupid but liverpool fc are NOT arsenal (or everton).
We have mega-rich owners and although they are tight-ass about giving money…i like what they have forced benitez 2 do…they told him to sell the deadwood 2 bring in cash.
also. they stopped gareth bid because they dont think they can recoup money on shirt sales ,etc n i have a feeling rick parry had a say in there. shame. however, benitez identified other players needed on the left n real quality is needed URGENTLY there.Silva fits the bill perfectly because:1. He is left-sided mildfielder/winger,2. he also substantial t-shirt sales( a la torres),3. he is young, 4. valencia are in financial crisis n whatever their officials say they do need 2 sell their best player..HOWEVER, does Silva attributes 4 the Epl? thats a big question mark.but judging on his performance against a physical chelsea 2 years ago in the best footballing competition on this planet. 4 me, he tends to go down easily.
But not everything is rosy in red side of merseyside: MAnu are still the club 2 beat. BUT in rafa we trust.
agreed its a no on both henry and silva
Liverpool fans will have to wait. Silva is coming to Barcelona. Barca has the money, he knows the league and he will play regular. If he moves from Valencia, he will go straight to Barcelona.
Silva to Liverpool would be a great buy, and with Valencia in so much debt it seems unlikely they can keep their star winger. But as for him to move to Barca??? Are you having a laugh??? He’d rather shoot himself in the foot, he has publicly denounced Barca in the sanish papers on a regular basis, they’re virtually arch nemesis. Rafa has the spanish connection, the wage packet to suit and a possible title challenge wit a new strike pair.
But dont see Henry going to Man Utd, he said when he left arsenal that they were the only team he’d consider playing for in the future (in reference to the EPL).